WHAT'S IN YOUR MENU

The first quarter of 2018 has come and gone. Yes, why the topic, I hear you ask? Stop pondering. It's a shame that most are still oblivious of what they should be doing to get them to the next level of expectation in their lives. Today, many are simply fitting into the norm and getting better at being crowd pleasers, instead, of chasing personal goals that will emancipate them from their boring and monotonous daily routines. When you experience the first miracle of the day (which is, to wake up from your slumber), the next course to chart should be that which will get you to your desired destination, as envisaged in your mind.

You should be a pace setter, and not allow time to  freely determine your pace of progress for you. Time has to obey you and not the other way round. Are you one of such person. Believe me, you have a simple, but, critical decision to make. After all, life has a canny way of forcing us into making decisions, be it right or wrong. This is a daily occurrence.

Today, you must decide what you must do to change your situation and exactly how you are going to go about it. That's your 'menu.' When you enter into a restaurant, the first item you ask for, is the menu, right? It helps inform your decision on what to purchase. Similarly, your personal menu would serve the following purposes and more;

1. It will aid clarity of vision.

2. It will ensure that you make the right move and take the right steps at all times.
3. It will aid you in taking deliberate and impactful actions.

4. It will create a clear pathway for your goals to be accomplished.
5. It will aid others in their assessment of whether to invest in you or not.

6. It will ensure that you make good use of your time and not waste it on activities (or people) with no meaning in your life.

I know that you may have gotten the gist of where I am heading with this already, if not, here it is. The menu alluded to here refers to the ability of all human to create concrete goals, and design thoughtful execution strategies that will help to achieve them. It includes; itemising the contents of your desires, dream, and ideas clearly on paper.

Take for instance, you've decided to embark on a potentially lucrative business venture that you hope will be investable. From an investor's perspective, the first thing to look at would be the individual and his or her capacity, enthusiasm and drive. Have they critically ruminated over their idea(s) and covered all pertinent angle of thoughts? Having done so, do they display visible confidence in the viability of their own ideas? What can one see in them that will inform the decisions of potential investors? Are they risk-averse? Have they worked on their business plan (or are working on it), and carried out proper market research and due-diligence into their area of interest? etcetera.

These are the contents of your menu for success in any area of endeavour. After all, if it can't be felt, it's probably not there, in the first place.

Your menu holds the key to unlock your next level in life. As the popular saying goes, "you cannot keep doing the same thing the way, and expect a different result." There's no magic route to success. Wake up from your slumber today, and challenge yourself to begin to build a success menu. Let the content be rich, and out of this world. It's better to dream of ideas that are out of this world, than not to dream at all.

May the Good LORD fill you with the strength, inspiration, and motivation you need to do so.

© Dr Dickson Aleroh www.dicksonalerohfoundation.org.ng.

You have something that belongs to the world

A lot of people today walk around aimlessly, leading unfulfilled lifestyles, pursuing futile dreams and careers, whilst, aspiring to attain positions that will only yield the fruits of a life of servitude. In the process, they forget that they we were all created intentionally by God Almighty. Yes, He created you for a reason. You didn’t just appear on earth by chance. As a matter of fact, it was for the fulfilment of a specific purpose to add something to the world. That something represents value. The latter is targeted towards the furtherance of the human endeavour, and we must all contribute our quota to its actualisation. And, you are no different.

I often ask myself what the purpose of my existence was, and how I use it to impact the global community in a positive manner? The answer is glaring to me. Truth be told, every human walking the surface of the earth has a role assigned to him or her that has to be fulfilled be it by natural or spiritual blandishment (or persuasion). Either way, you will eventually find yourself doing that peculiar thing (or combination of things) that will contribute towards the accomplishment of your purpose of existence.

I for one was not able to unravel my true purpose earlier in life. So, upon graduating from my third University degree (PhD) at Imperial College London and Queen Mary University of London, I began to struggle. From one interview to the other, my hopes dashed. But, I kept moving forward, instead of being dismayed and looking down on myself, as many in my shoes at that time would.

Moving forward for me, meant, re-strategizing by digging deeper and asking my Creator the right questions. I would sometimes have a me time. Trust me, there’s nothing as pertinent as sitting quietly and doing some personal assessment of where you are in life, and trying to ascertain where you ought to be. A plethora of crazy ideas will pop up in your mind, in the course of your, so called, ‘me time,’ but, zeroing into that one point or moment that will hopefully get you to your place of dream, is key. That’s your eureka moment.

That new thing you have discovered is what you have to contribute to the world. So, go out there and dominate, impact your world and do those things that will get you to attain greatness in life. You were created for more, and without limits. Remember to humble yourself and open your mind to fresh thought processes, ideas, and game-changing possibilities.

To become wealthy, you have to dream big, and work ten times harder. With God on your side and you looking to HIM for direction(s), you will in no time impact your world and attain greatness.

REKINDLING LOST APPETITE

This morning I woke up with a sense of distracted purpose, an eye off target, and a mind lost in translation. It's almost as if I had drifted off course almost intentionally. Then, a thought came to mind, and it says, what if? With a sense of subconscious urgency and panic, I pondered right away on this seamlessly vague question for a moment.

Then it suddenly dawned on me that when you are mandated to fulfil a genuine mission by supernatural directives from above, it will and must be accomplished. It constantly fights you, irrespective of the plethora of diversions or excuses you may have. You are constantly and subconsciously reminded of the need to rekindle your sense of purpose, keep up the pace, and stay on course and on message for glory.

Naively, I didn't realise how one could be easily be carried away from such a life-changing duty to humanity by the many occurrences in life. Today, I am once again re-routed to where it all began. That is, to create indelible transformational impact in the lives of the seeker who constantly yearns for answers to where his or her destiny lies, and the directionless soul, with hopes of finding his or her way in this maze of uncertainly, called life.

Truth be told, you can easily lose that which doesn't come natural to you, not simply failing to utilise it, whatever that may be.  In this context, I mean, your purpose, that one thing you are suppose to be doing that will induce lasting satisfaction and fulfilment in you each time it is put into targeted use.

In this changing world, the stage is now set for solution providers, innovative thinkers, and masters of ideas. You may be in one of these three categories without realising it. So search within, as I have today, and ask yourself this pertinent question, 'am I doing me or simply living in the shadows of others?' If the latter is the case, it's never too late to begin thinking innovatively and search for ideas that will spur and reignite that once lost appetite in your God-given purpose, that at a time formed the centrepiece of your focus in life.  

To conclude, my friend, one of the fastest way to lose your bearing in life, is to feel too comfortable in a false state of existence. Break free now and meander back to that place where your inner fire is kindled and your purpose becomes the focus. I found my lost appetite and I hope you will today.

© Dr Dickson Aleroh | Entrepreneur | Transformational Speaker | Author | Mentor

Buck the Trend

Take a look around you, what could you observe? Now, take a good look at yourself. Did you notice anything out of line? Yesterday, today and tomorrow share something in common. That is, TIME. The latter, has a lot of ingredients in it, and is certainly not your friend. A little slumber, a short pause in activity, it slowly slips away. Above all, there's something that all human actions in tend to leave behind. It's referred to as, 'TREND.' 

There are events which many are not preview to or even partook in, that, has continued to hunt them till this very day, and will continue into the posterity, if not halted at some point in our quest for purposeful living. Many around the world today are bearing the scars and suffering from the consequences actioned by their ancestors. 

Trends can be good or bad. Good in the sense that, you can continue to enjoy the prosperity of your ancestors. Because, at the some point in your lineage, someone made a decision to break some type of recurrent trend, and became fruitful and well accomplished in whatsoever they embark on. It could have been a business venture, an investment, a change in religion, reorientation of focus, a new name or what have you. But, that single action or decision bucked the trend and brought a new dimension into your future, today. 

Today, a lot of individuals have been subjected to rampant misfortunes, that are not of their own making. Many, spend their whole lives serving people from 8 am to 5 pm and sometimes longer, all in the name of, 'I want a job.' I was saddened to hear many consistently complain of their dislike for Mondays. Well, generations before you did lived exactly the same lifestyle that you are living right now. And guess what! You were trained and taught to do exactly, the same thing over and over again. So, all your life, you spend it in perpetual resentment. When will this stop and how?

Well, our CREATOR [GOD ALMIGHTY] has clearly admonished us to, "Do not conform to the patterns [TRENDS] of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is." (NIV - Romans 12:2)

The above statement clearly placed the responsibility for breaking any trends squarely in your hands. You have to decide today that enough is enough. Refine your thought processes now, and make a conscious decision to want to do better than those before you. You can become wealthy and successful, even if you are the first in your family to aspire to such heights. God has made you to be beacon of hope to many and a light to your generation. 

Albeit, that, the path to breaking that trend in your life may be riddled with numerous challenges, it's a must to imbibe the culture of prayer, perseverance, and sacrifice. In the end, it will all be worth your while. 

Break the trend, Find Fulfilment, Live on Purpose.   

    

WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT

This morning my sleep was interrupted with my heart panting. To me, it was one of those moments when you are pressed, and suddenly, you wake up and have to visit the loo. The difference this time was that I couldn't just go back sleep. As a matter of fact, I felt like something was in my mind and was burning so much that, returning to sleep, would have been tantamount to dereliction of once calling. So, I decided to yield to whatever it was that was perturbing me vigorously on the inside.

So, as I sat and pondered for a few moments, I was subconsciously reminded of my purpose and the magnitude of my dreams. In fact, the need to keep up the pace and momentum were the key prickling factors which got me to such a heightened state, that, I couldn't simply ignore and retire to bed, again.

 Then a question came to mind, I was asked by fear, are your undertakings not bigger than you? Now, that's the enemy speaking, and the God in me had to quickly respond. Get up, son, and do!! I was told. The surprising thing is that, this is not the first time that I had felt this way.

I believe that whatever the Almighty God has called you to do, and placed in those scared hands of yours, he would surely avail you the tools to accomplish them. But, there is a reminder from time to time. You can either rise up to the occasion or snooze and lose it all.  

You see, if you are called to fulfil a specific purpose, and fill a void either physically or spiritual, you must make it a point of duty to keep up. The lie that the enemy within, whatever that may represent to you, would make you believe, is that, you are not worth it and that mission that you have been graciously called to embark on may be too big a shoe for you to fit in. Lie! Lie! Lie! All lies, I said.

If you are reading this, this morning, then you are one of those that your Creator has compelled me to deliver this good news to. And that is, you can accomplish all that you have been assigned to do, NOW. Forget about what that negative voice is saying to try to convince you on the inside. The God who designed you, desires for you to be a GAME-CHANGER, and certainly not a mere functioning part of the assembly line of LIFE.

If anything does not keep you up in the middle of the night, then it is not real and certainly not big enough. Those seemingly impossible dreams, desires, and endeavours, that you have conjured in the inmost part of your heart will definitely KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT.

As a matter of certainty, if you don't embark on devising ways to see to their realisation, you will have no peace, nor freedom.

This morning, I have fulfilled that mission which interrupted my peace tonight, and now I feel a true sense of relief and unburdened. The decision is now yours to see wisdom in what you have perused and get working.

It is my sincere hope that, you will intentionally wake up and strive to begin to break boundaries, and part ways with all the false limitations in your life. Remember to pray to your CREATOR to aid you in discovering your true calling in life and direct your path, accordingly.

Albeit, not easy, in the fruitful end, you will find cause to be thankful and lead a life without regrets.   

All rights reserved - Dr Dickson Aleroh | Motivational Speaker | Author | Influencer | Entrepreneur

LET GO - A PRINCIPLE FOR PERSONAL GROWTH

I have had this topic in mind for a while now, and it won't simply dissipate into the abyss. Recently, whilst on a business trip to Africa, I studied the environment I found myself and deduced several correlations, which resulted to the topic in focus today. This is part of the reason why travelling is so advantageous, because, it broadens our scope of thought and enhances our perspective of situations, disparity in human traits, others way of life, and aids our appreciation of life the more.  

Building on the above, it quickly became apparent that our location has a lot of influence on our way of life, but, not on our mindsets. As humans, certain behavioural patterns resonates amongst us all. One would have conceived the fact that, a resident of the most enlightened part of the world, which we all can agree lies in the western hemisphere, would exhibit some degree of difference in the way they visualise life and the furtherance of it. But, this is far from reality.

We all share one indisputable desire, and this I call, 'PG' (personal growth). Without the latter, we will all remain stagnant in life, and feel a deep sense of unfulfilment, which would eventually lead to a life of emptiness and a resentful end. Yet most of us wonder why we don't attain the desired improvements or that next level in our careers, business or social engagements. The spirit of stagnancy and false sense of comfort is real and forms part of the daily battle which occurs in our minds on a daily basis.

Part of human endeavour is to want more out of everything we do. We want more money, more profits, more career progression, more cars, more houses, and more! more! more! of everything. Well, there is nothing wrong in ones desire for more. Otherwise, the human race would not have been able to attain such progressive level of development, technological advancement, and peaceful coexistence, that we all enjoy today.  

An important example that may help us better appreciate this topic is the area of warfare. A president once stated that some people have to die for others to live. As bad as this may sound to the hearing, it is a necessity to the sustenance of human existence and global peace upon which progression in economic growth is built.

If a country's leader could fathom such power thought, so should us as individuals who are vying for change in various unsatisfactory aspects of our lives. The truth of the matter is that whatever you want to achieve in life, something must give way. You can't keep piling up food in your stomach without a release. The same principle applies to our individual growth.

You can't attract anything new until you let go of the old. For a plant to growth, it must first be buried, which represents death. There is no two way about it, there is always a sacrifice and a price to pay to attain that new place you so badly yearn for, whatever that may represent.

I leave you with this quote, "The panacea to stagnancy in life is to let go of the old things, and learn to nurture the new."

© Dr Dickson Aleroh

A JOURNEY TO THE PROMISE LAND

As I sat to take stock of all that I have achieved on my current journey, a thought came to mind. It all got me thinking in different dimensions. You see, there comes a time in our lives when certain steps has to be taken to accomplish specific goals, dreams, and aspirations buried deep in our hearts. Some journeys we embark on may not necessarily be for ourselves alone, it may be for our children, and generations not yet conceived.

Today's generation are beneficiaries of the opportunities and privileges created by our hard-working ancestors, who made some often difficult decisions and journeys many centuries ago. Yes, they lived through a period where they had very little by the way of comfort, however, they didn't mind at all. Their sole focus was the intended purpose of their journey.

A journey is a sacrifice that we all must make someday and at some point in our lives. 

"You have to do something out of the ordinary to attain prominence in life, and ensure that your generation don't have to." 

It is during these journeys that you will learn what is not usually taught in schools till this day. You will encounter countless challenges, trials, and situations that will eventually shape your outlook of life.

At some point in life, we need shaping and preparation for the unforeseen. You don't get very far in life without them. After all, gold will not be so attractive and valuable if it hadn't been put through some of the most excruciating conditions there is.

Our journey comes in stages, and you have to be thoroughly prepared for it. You prepare by learning from previous situations that will test your character, patience and aptitude. Hence, why the journey is pertinent.

Lonely as it may be, it is worth it in the end. After all, name a great man or woman with great wealth and accomplishments who had millions of friends backing them, or should I say, loyal friends. None.....! 

"A wise man don't have a lot of friends, but, soldiers with divinely aligned dreams and goals."

Many people are friends with you only after you've achieved prominence, and not during times of hardship and toiling. Above all, we must be grateful at all times for the opportunities that our Creator, God Almighty, has so graciously accorded us by giving is families who supports us, and for illuminating our darkness, to comprehend this message.

Whether you believe it or not, you are already on a journey, because, every single day you wake up, you initiate a new one again and again. What's imperative is that you are learning to progress through some often painful mistakes and failures made along the way. 

"Men will fail you, but, God Almighty, will force the hands of your helper to do that which will favour you."

Give it all it will take to get to where you want to be in life and sacrifice whilst you can or forever remain a servant to money and those with plenty of it, for the rest of your life. 

"The journey never ends. It only continues when you leave."